Teaching with Technology:
Planning for Technology
and
Universal Design for Learning (UDL)

Hello Benavidez Technology Community Members!
This week we will look at “Planning for Technology,” from “Using Technology with Classroom Instruction that Works,” and “Universal Design for Learning (UDL) from “Teaching Every Student in the Digital Age: Universal Design for learning.” This week’s readings will transform the way that you approach planning. After learning about these two approaches, your focus will no longer be objective based, but strategic and student centered.
Pitler suggests that planning should begin with the “Four Planning Questions:
1. What will students learn?
2. Which strategies will provide evidence of student learning?
3. Which strategies will help students acquire and integrate learning?
4. Which strategies will help students practice, review, and apply learning?”
Each of these questions is integral to the planning process. Answering these questions during the planning process ensures that objectives are clear and that instructional strategies are focused on student achievement. Most importantly, these questions provide the framework for the integration of technology into the lesson as: instructional media, media for students to demonstrate learning, a way to communicate with students and parents, and/or a way to provide student feedback.
Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a dynamic planning approach that accommodates the diversity of the learners that we serve. Most of us are familiar with learning styles and strive to provide activities that engage the varying learning styles that are represented in our classrooms. UDL strives to individualize learning for each student by addressing the ways that students learn. UDL has categorized the ways that students learn into the following networks:
Recognition networks:
Recognition networks involve gathering facts. This network addresses how we identify and categorize what we have seen, heard, and read.

Strategic networks:
Strategic networks involve the planning and performance of tasks. This network addresses the organization and expression of ideas.

Affective networks:
Affective networks involve the engagement and motivation of students. This network addresses challenging students and keeping them interested in learning.

Another unique component that is integral to the UDL philosophy is the UDL practice of multiple means. UDL stresses the importance of:
Multiple means of representation: Providing students with a variety of ways of acquiring new information and knowledge.
Multiple means of action and expression: Providing students with a variety of ways to demonstrate learning.
Multiple means of engagement: Providing students with challenge, motivation and an educational connection to their personal interests.
UDL strives to make the learning experience equitable for every student regardless of academic level or learning challenges.

Resources:
“Using Technology with Classroom Instruction that Works” Howard Pitler, Elizabeth Hubblell, Matt Kuhn and Kim Malenoski
Teaching Every Student in the Digital Age: Universal Design for Learning
David H. Rose & Anne Meyer

www.cast.org/teachingeverystudent